COMMA Fund 2008-2011

Defra has commissioned ACRE to deliver three years of funding with finances drawn from the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.  The grants programme, known as COMMA, has funding to distribute in 3 stages: 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 and focuses on supporting community projects in settlements affected by quarrying.

The application process for the COMMA fund 2009-2010 is now closed for applications.    A national awarding panel will meet at ACRE on Monday 3rd August 2009 to make the final decisions as to which projects are awarded grants.  ACRE will notify all applicants of the outcome of their projects as soon as possible after the 3rd August and a list of awards will be posted on this website

Five essential conditions must be satisfied for projects to be eligible for the COMMA fund:

• The community where the project is based is/has been affected by aggregates extraction or transportation of aggregates
• The proposed project is within 10 kilometres of an aggregates extraction site, either current or disused
• The proposed project must benefit the whole community or section of the community, not an individual
• The applicant must be a community organisation, a charity or a parish/town council
• All project works funded by COMMA grants in 2009/10 must be capable of completion by the end of March 2010.                                                     

• Application form
• Application Guidelines 2009-10
• Promotional leaflet

Please click the relevant link below for a list of Quarries:

Please note that this is based on a number of sources and is not a definitive or comprehensive list. The definition of an eligible quarry is contained in the Finance Act 2001 (link), and its inclusion in this list does not demonstrate eligibility in itself. ACRE will continue to update this list on the basis of any feedback and local information received.

Community Action (former Avon) – Not South Gloucestershire or North Somerset
Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
Community Council for Berkshire
Buckinghamshire Community Action
Cambridgeshire ACRE
Cheshire Community Action
Dorset Community Action
Community Action Hampshire
Community Development Agency for Hertfordshire
Community First Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Humber & Wolds Rural Community Council – Not geographical County of Lincolnshire
Isle of Wight Rural Community Council
Action with Communities in Rural Kent
Norfolk Rural Community Council
Northamptonshire ACRE (includes Rutland)
Community Action Northumberland
Oxfordshire Rural Community Council
Suffolk ACRE
Surrey Community Action
Action in Rural Sussex
Warwickshire Rural Community Council
Community First, Wiltshire
Rural Action Yorkshire – Not Doncaster or North Yorkshire

ALSF will continue to be delivered by the local authorities in the areas listed below. These areas are NOT eligible for COMMA funding:

For further information visit the Defra website and click ‘Allocation of funding’

47 organisations were awarded grants totalling £434,300 under the COMMA 2008/2009 grants programme.  A wide range of projects, which directly improve the lives of people in their communities, were awarded grants of between £3,000 and £20,000.   These projects will provide for essential community needs, allowing community groups to provide for more inclusive services within their local areas.

Demand for the funding was high.  Communities requested in excess of £2,600,000 for a diverse range of projects within the 23 eligible areas for the fund.   

Ivinghoe Parish Council received £20,000 towards the cost of new playground equipment.

In 2007-2008 the COMMA fund attracted 207 applicants from a vast range of projects representing the diversity of ideas and needs in rural communities across England.

Goatacre Village Hall received  £20,000  for an environmental technology project. They have installed an environmentally-effective non-oil/fossil fuel warm air central heating and solar-heated warm water.

Medway Valley Countryside Partnership received £6,400  to produce information material and an on-line resource on the heritage and wildlife of the River Medway read more

Taste for Adventure Centre received £19,300 for the further development of their centre and its facilities.  The grant has allowed them to build a survival eco area, provide kayaks for less able people, hot meals, trips and transportation for the ‘over 60’s’ groups and create pathways which allow easier access for wheelchair users and the elderly.

Great Barton Village received £5,000 for the refurbishment of their main hall.  For the full story visit their website